Folding storm-door curtain for automobiles.



E. F. NEAL.

FOLDING STORM DOOR CURTAIN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor r I Attorneys E. F. NEAL.

FOLDING STORM DOOR CURTAIN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1913.

1,091,380. Patent ed M21124, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Witnesses Inventor I W Attorneys TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELGIN F. NEAL, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CLARENCE SOUTH, OF WATSEKA, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING STORM-DOOR CURTAIN FOR-AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 15, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 789,928,

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELGIN F. NEAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Folding Storm-Door Curtain for Automobiles, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains generally to automobile or vehicle tops, and relatcs more particularly to a novel and improved storm curtain.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a storm curtain embodying doors which may be readily opened and closed for the ingress or egress of the passengers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door-equipped storm curtain of the nature indicated, which may be compactly folded when not in use, so as to be stored under the seat of the automobile body, as usual, or within a suitable compartment provided for that purpose, the doors being of such construction as to be foldable with the curtain proper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storm curtain embodying doors, which are designed to cooperate with the doors of the automobile body, in order that the storm curtain doors may be opened and closed automatically with the doors of the automobile body.

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the in vention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,

'it bein understood that changes in the prefragmental plan view of the two sections of the door frame, the same being in separated position. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail illustrating the manner of hinging the door frame, and for spring pressing the same. Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view of the parts depicted in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an arbitrary or conventional type of automobile body, including the side doors 2 and an ordinary or prevailing type of top 3 including the side curtains 4, which are held in place by means of the turn buttons 5 carried by the top bows, although in some instances the lower turn buttons are carried by the automobile body. The side curtain 4 may be, and preferably is, constructed of a number of sections, as is well understood in the art.

In carrying out the present invention, the side or storm curtain 4 is provided with the door flaps 6 forming the door openings or passages 7, cooperatin with the door openings of the automobile body, the flaps 6 swinging open similar to the doors 2 of the automobile body. Inasmuch as the curtain doors are practically duplicates, only one need be described in detail, the same suflicing for all. The upper end and free edge of each flap 6 is preferably arranged to overlap the upper end and corresponding edge of the door opening '7 while the lower end of the flap 6 is designed to overlap the upper end of the respective body door 2, in order that when the doors 2 and flaps 6 are closed, the elements will be effectively excluded from the interior of the top and body.

Secured to the inner side of the storm curtains 4 at the sides of each doorway 7 is a pair of upright ribs or stays 8 and 9, the former being disposed adjoining the basal portion of the respective flap 6, and the latter being disposed at the opposite edge of the doorway 7. The ribs or stays 8 and 9 are equipped at their ends with the crotches or forks 10 which are adapted to straddle the buttons 5, in order that when the storm curtain is attached to the said buttons, the ribs or stays 8 and 9 will properly hold the storm curtain in position. and serve as a means for supporting the door frame hereinafter described. The storm curtain ,is provided with the button openings 11 within the crotchcs or forks 10 for the reception or passage of the turn buttons 5.

bodies the upper and lower rails 15,which' have their inner ends journaled over the pintles 14,. and which are connected ad joining their outer or free ends, by means of an integral stile 16. The other frame section includes the upper and lower rails 17 connected by the stiles 18, the inner ends of the rails 17 being pivoted to the outer or free ends of the rails 15 by means of rule joints. The flap 6 is preferably provided with the transparent panels or panes 19 within the respective door frame sections, in order to permit of vision through the said flap, it being observed that the hinged door sections permit the door embodying the flap 6 and the door frame, to fold when the storm curtain is taken down and folded.

The rule joints connecting the door frame sections, include the following essentials. Each of the rails or members 15 has a pair of ears 20 at its free end, while the respective or adjoining end of the corresponding rail 17 of the free section of the door frame is equipped witha pair of similar ears 21, the ears 20 and 21 being interengaged or overlapped, and having a pintle or pin 22 engaged therethrough, The rule joints are of such construction as to permit the frame sections to hold together with the door flap 6.

Means are provided for holding the door frame sections either in open or folded positions, and to this end, a leaf spring 23 is secured upon the inner end portion of each rail member 17 by means of a pair of screws or securing members 24, the leaf spring 23 having an aperture 25 adapted to accommodate or receive the headed end of the rivet or hinge pin 22, and having an angular tooth or spur 26 at its free end. The upper car 21 of each rail 17 overlaps the upper car 20 of the respective rail 15, the upper ear'20 having the diametrically opposite radial slots or notches 27 which are designed to receive the tip of the tooth or spur 26 when the frame sections are either unfolded or folded together, the upper car 21 being cut away as at 28, to receive the tooth or spur 26. It will thus be apparent that when the door frame sections are unfolded or folded, the spring catches 23 will engage the notches or slots 27 to yieldingly lock the frame sections to the positions to which they have been set.

The butt or inner end portions of the rails 15 of the inner door frame sections are provided with the toes or dogs 29 which are designed to engage the inner side of the rib or stay 8 when the curtain door is closed, so as to limit the inward swinging movement of the door, without encumbering the opening movement ofthe door. I

The curtain door is normally closed by means of coiled wire springs 30 mounted on the pintles 14 and having their inner ends engaged through apertures 31 formed in the rails 15, the outer ends of the springs 30 engaging through slots-32 provided in the extremities of the pintles '14, and caps 33 being threaded over the extremities of the pintles to maintain the springs in position. The springs 30 have a tension tending to swing the door frame to closed position, it being noted, however, that the springs 30 permit the door frame to swing open, which results in bringing the springs under greater tension.

In order that the curtain door will be swung open with the respective body door 2, the inner door frame section is provided with a depending extension 34: overlapping the outer side of the door 2, underneath the lower end of the flap 6. It will thus be evident that when the doors of the automobile body are opened, the said door engaging the extremity 3% of the inner section of the curtain door frame, will cause the curtain door to be swung open simultaneously, against the tension of the springs 30. When the body door is closed, the springs 30 will serve to close the curtain door automatically, as will be apparent. The extensions 34 may be padded or otherwise protected to prevent marring or injury of the doors of the automobile body.

The present stormcurtain may be readily adjusted and applied to the top bows and body, in the ordinary fashion, and when the storm curtain is detached, the same may be compactly folded and stored away, it being observed that the doofs may be doubled or folded so as to facilitate folding the storm curtain.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A folding storm curtain for an automobile body having a'door flap to complement the door of the automobile body, a door frame embodying hinged door sections attached to the said flap the door frame having means to engage the body door, and cooperating means carried by the sections of the door frame for holding them in unfolded or folded positions.

2. A folding storm curtain for an automobile body having a door flap to complement the door of the automobile body, a door frame embodying sections having pivoted ears, a leaf spring secured to one frame section and having an angular spur at its free and an ear of the other frame section having notches for the entry of said spur, the door frame having means for engaging the body door.

3. A storm curtain for an automobile body having a door flap to complement the door of the automobile body, a stay attached to the curtain at the basal portion of the said flap, a door frame hinged to the said stay and attached to the said flap, and yieldable means between the stay and door frame for swinging the latter closed, the door frame having means for engaging the bod door.

4. A storm curtain for an automobi e body having a door fla to complement the door of the au'toTnobHe body, a stay attached to the curtain at the basal portion of the said flap, and a'door frame hinged to the said stay and attached to the said flap, the said stay having crotches at its ends for engaging over the turn buttons of the automobile body top. v

5. A storm curtain for an automobile body having a door flap to complement the door of the automobile body, a stay attached to the curtain at the basal a door frame hinged to t e said stay and attached to the flap, and yieldable means between the stay and door frame for swinging the said door frame closed, the door frame hav' an extension to overlap the outer side 0 the body door, and the door gortion of the flap,

frame and stay having cooperating portions to limit the movement of the door frame when it is closed.

6. A storm curtain for an automobile body, having a door flap to complement the door of the automobile body, a stay attached to the curtain at the basal portion of the flap and having pintles, a door frame pivoted to the said pintles, and attached to the said flaps, springs mounted on the said pintles and engaging the door frame for yieldingly closing the same, the door frame having dogs for engaging the said stay to limit the inward movement of the door frame, and having an extension to engage the body door.

7. 'A folding storm curtam having a door flap to complement the door of an automobile body, a stay attached to the curtain at the basal portion of the flap, and having crptches at its ends, and a spring pressed door frame hinged to the said stay and em bodying hinged sections attached to the said flap, the door frame having dogs to engage the said stay when the door frame is closed, and having an extension to overlap the door or the automobile body.

In testimony that 'I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELGIN F. NEAL.

Witnesses:

ALTER S. Dowm, Crrss. B. Hnznnlaunsr. 

